Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung said since its inception over half a century ago, ASEAN has overcome multiple challenges and emerged into a strong and resilient community with all 10 Southeast Asian countries as members.

This owes a great deal to ASEAN’s balanced and unique approach, and above all, thanks to our solidarity and unity.Our Community has grown in all dimensions with sustainability, Dung said.

The cohesive and strong ties among member states have allowed us to be effectively responsive to the challenges of the new era. ASEAN has undeniably become a key actor for the region’s peace, stability, cooperation and development, and is enjoying extensive relations with various partners, especially major powers. This has broughtabout significant and tangible benefits to each and every member state, Dung stressed.

ASEAN has overcome multiple challenges and emerged into a strong and resilient community with all 10 Southeast Asian countries as members. Photo: VGP

Throughout the history of ASEAN, the member countries have seen multiple milestones such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 1976, which provided the fundamental principles for peaceful and friendly relations among member states. Another example is the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) established in 1992, the first building block for our regional economic integration and connectivity. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was established in 1994 for exchange and cooperation in addressingregional security issues. Notably, the signing of the ASEAN Charter in 2007 has created the legal basis for establishment of the ASEAN Communityresting on3 Pillars in 2015.

These historic milestones, as Dung said, are vivid testaments to ASEAN’s consistent aspirations and determination to maintain peace and promote sustainable development through dialogue and rules-basedcooperation, and by strengthening intra- and extra-ASEANconnectivity, and enhancing ASEAN's adaptability in the new era, towards “an inclusive, rules-based, people-oriented and people-centered community”.

One of the key milestones in the history of ASEAN was the signing of the ASEAN Charter in 2007. Photo: VGP

As the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Viet Nam pledges to join hands with other ASEAN member states to build upon the past achievements, further promote dialogues and cooperation, and strive to foster a stable and peaceful environment conducive to development. We also remain committed to expanding business and investment opportunities, improving the quality of life and community health, promoting social security and welfare, fostering ASEAN's commonidentity, connectingthe peoples of ASEAN and promoting ASEAN’s values beyond the region.

Dung affirmed that ASEAN cooperation remains one of the top priorities in Viet Nam's foreign policy.

He called for continued support and cooperation of all ASEAN friends and other regional and international partners and friends for Viet Nam as the ASEAN Chair next year so as to make even greatercontributions to building a peaceful, stable, prosperous, people-centered and people-oriented ASEAN Community./.